Verdict

The Volkswagen Golf hatchback is one of the best-known name badges of any car on sale. It's been available in the UK since 1974 and we're currently on the seventh generation, with a major facelift carried out in 2017 to keep the design and technology right up-to-date. It’s more expensive to buy than most of its rivals, but given the range of equipment on offer, the breadth of the petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric range of engines and the sporty Golf GTI and Golf R, it’s difficult to find a version of the Volkswagen that won’t suit you.

Volkswagen Golf styling

Golfs have tended to be conservative choices, and the design has been common throughout all seven generations. This version is larger than the model it replaced, but it’s still a compact hatchback compared with many rivals, thanks to its near-vertical tail. That hasn’t hampered either cabin space or practicality, with one of the roomiest interiors, along with a 380-litre boot – that’s not the largest in this segment, but the 60:40 split-folding rear seat does tumble flat for added flexibility. If you need more space there’s always the Volkswagen Golf SV, or the Golf Estate. Inside the Golf you’ll find the high quality VW has become famous for, with an amazing level of fit and finish, with premium-grade squidgy plastics employed for the main planes of the dashboard.

Volkswagen Golf TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines

There's a massive range of engines, so you’ll struggle to not find a version of the VW Golf that satisfies your requirements. Every petrol- and diesel-engined version is turbocharged for both power and efficiency and all feature Volkswagen’s BlueMotion fuel-saving measures, including stop-start. Petrol engines start with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder TSI with 85hp and 115hp, while the rest of the mainstream range is fleshed out with four-cylinder 1.5 TSI Evos in 130hp and 150hp outputs. For those seeking the efficiency of diesel power, the 1.6-litre TDI comes in 110hp form, while the 2.0-litre version is available in outputs of 150hp or 190hp if you opt for the sportier Golf GTD.

Volkswagen e-Golf and GTE

If you want an electric car, then there are two choices: the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE is a sportier take, while the e-Golf is a pure BEV (battery electric vehicle) with no conventional engine at all – the claimed range is 180 miles between recharges. The Volkswagen Golf GTE was a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) which combined a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to develop 204hp. Despite the GTE moniker, it's actually a very easy-going daily drive that happens to have a sub-8.0 second 0-62mph time. It proved so popular that orders were suspended in 2018, as Volkswagen struggled to meet demand. That's strengthened the values of secondhand examples considerably.

The Volkswagen e-Golf has also proven popular, with long lead times for customers who have placed an order – again, as VW struggles to ramp up battery production. We've run one in an extended long-term review.

Golf GTI Performance and Golf R hot hatchbacks

Both the Golf GTI Performance and R versions feature 2.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engines producing between 245hp and 300hp depending upon the version chosen – good enough for a top speed of 155mph and a sub-5.0 second 0-62mph time for the quickest. Additionally, VW offers a Performance derivative of the R, with extra go-faster bits for an even more engaging drive. The GTI Performance gets a limited-slip differential on the front axle and better brakes, while the R gets a higher top speed, larger brakes and 19-inch alloy wheels. A titanium sports exhaust is available on the latter, too.

Limited-run performance Golfs

VW upped the ante even further with a stripped-out and strictly limited edition Golf GTI Clubsport S in 2016 boasting 310hp, and a top speed of 164mph. At the beginning of 2019, the GTI TCR was introduced, which stood for Touring Car Racing. This took the GTI Performance and upped the engine’s power to 290hp, added a bespoke bodykit and uprated the brakes.

Facelifted Volkswagen Golf from 2017

Spring 2017 saw the arrival of the mildly facelifted Golf hatchback range. Visually the alterations are limited to new bumpers and lights which employ a higher proportion of LED technology. But, nonetheless VW is calling this the most significant mid-life update in the Golf’s 40-year history – which just goes to show the pace of change in the modern car industry - and that most of the changes are under-the-skin.

As such, the facelift focuses largely on technology – in terms of both infotainment and safety. There’s a 9.2-inch Discover Pro touchscreen option, for example, that together with the available Active Info Display fully digital instrument cluster (VW’s version of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit) completely modernises the interior. Discover Pro even features a rudimentary gesture control system that allows you to ‘swipe’ certain functions without touching anything at all.

Should you buy a Volkswagen Golf?

That wide range of power options is combined with a variety of trim levels to help tailor your Golf even more to your liking. The specification hierarchy is complex and includes a large number of performance-oriented versions. All versions are well-equipped with air-con complete with rear-passenger air-vents, height-adjustment on both front seats, a colour touchscreen for the infotainment system with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, and seven airbags.

There’s also a wealth of extra-cost options to pore over to tailor your Golf closer to your specific needs, be it enhancing safety or upgrading the multimedia system. In short, there's a reason it's called the 'People's Car' – there's a Golf for everyone, and whichever version you choose, you know it's going to be a safe and hugely competent choice.